Cam Newton undecided on throwing at combine

(UPDATE: Saying he wanted "to be transparent," Cam Newton decided Monday night that he will fully participate in the scouting combine's drills.)

To throw or not to throw Sunday at the NFL scouting combine, that is a decision Heisman Trophy-winning Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is still weighing three days before the combine running Thursday through Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Newton's Auburn pro day is March 8. Many of the top quarterbacks who decided to throw helped state their case with decision makers from all 32 teams, including New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, who convinced the Jets to trade up to select him fifth overall in 2009.

Another quarterback who elevated his draft stock with his combine throwing session was Baltimore's Joe Flacco, who convinced Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome to trade up to 18th overall in 2008.

Other quarterbacks such as Detroit's Matthew Stafford and Atlanta's Matt Ryan didn't throw and that decision didn't hurt their stock when they threw well on their individual pro days.

Newton is debating the merits of each side of the argument, considering most talent evaluators look at it as a positive and award prospects who decide to throw the equivalent of a mulligan on the accuracy of their throws to unfamiliar receivers merely for deciding to compete in front of general managers, coaches and scouts from every team.

"I know it's open to him. It's not like it's a (open and) shut deal,'' Whitfield said. "The competitor in Cam is right now balancing out all the advice.

"It's probably going to be a matter of how he feels when he gets there.''

One highly-respected draft analyst thinks it would be in Newton's best interest to let it fly at the combine with no clear-cut No. 1 consensus overall pick and the Carolina Panthers just beginning their debate about who to select No. 1 overall come the April 28-30 draft.

"Cam should throw,'' NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang said. "And if you do well, what a way to create a buzz for yourself.

"Especially after he threw so well during his media workout (in San Diego) a few weeks ago. I would expect to see him work out again. We'll see.''

Among other top QB prospects, Missouri's Blaine Gabbert isn't expected to throw at the combine, while Washington's Jake Locker has said publicly that he will.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate